(12 a.m.) Tropical Storm Ernesto has made land contact near Cape Fear in North Carolina, just 25 miles southwest of Wilmington, as reported by the National Hurricane Center. The hurricane watch from the Santee River, South Carolina to Cape Lookout, North Carolina remains in effect. A hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the next 12 hours.

Maximum sustained winds are being clocked at 70 miles per hour.
The port of Charleston, South Carolina has been closed since noon on Wednesday, August 30, 2006, and will reopen Friday morning, weather permitting.

Currently, Ernesto is not affecting any cruise lines' itineraries.

Isolated tornadoes are possible from eastern North Carolina to southeastern Virginia. The effects of Ernesto could cause life-threatening flash floods and mud slides from northeastern South Carolina to the Mid-Atlantic states